653 Chenery Street
in San Francisco's Glen Park neighborhood
1-415-586-3733
[email protected]
Open to walk-in trade and browsing
Tuesday to Sunday
noon to six
Live Streams every weekend!
Refresh your browser to catch a show in progress!
Visit our Facebook page or YouTube channel!
But nothing beats being in the room with the music & the musicians!
Chinese American revolutionary feminist poet Nellie Wong, a Glen Park resident, grew up in Oakland’s Chinatown and came of age working in her parents’ restaurant there. Tracked into a working class path and following business classes at Oakland High School, she went to work as a secretary at Bethlehem Steel. In her 30s, in the late 1960s, Nellie enrolled at San Francisco State University, taking creative writing, ethnic studies and feminist studies classes and joining the Freedom Socialist Party and Radical Women, lifelong associations that continue to this day. Her development as a poet and her dedication to the struggle for radical social change took on a focused momentum in those years at San Francisco State which has continued for five decades. In her mid-80s, in tribute to her engagement in poetry and political struggle, students at Oakland High successfully petitioned for a building at the school to be named…
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Four jazz combos from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music take the stage tonight! Four 30-45 minute sets starting at 3pm with a 15 minute break between sets. $25 cover charge, byob. No reservations required.
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Hal Richards, saxophones, clarinets, flutes, shawm, crumhorn. Henry Hung, trumpet. Kevin Gerzevitz, piano. Ron Belcher, bass. Akira Tana, drums. $25 cover charge; byob. For a reservation, call the shop at 415-586-3733. Something old, something new. Something borrowed and some blues. Coming three days before the election, the quintet will perform Lenny Carlson’s piece. “The Toddler,” to provide perspective. Hal Richards, born in New York City, is a versatile woodwind specialist (saxophones, flutes, clarinets, oboe and bassoon). He’s been performing and recording with many of the Bay Areas finest musicians since 1976. Currently performing with Jeff Sanford’s Cartoon Jazz Orchestra and Septet, The Berkeley Saxophone Quartet, The Dave Parker Quintet, The California Pops Orchestra, and the Golden Gate Park Band, Hal has appeared with Carol Channing, Terry Gibbs, Eric Marienthal, Bill Perkins, Bob Florence, Omar Clay, Lenny Niehaus, Fred Radke, and at The North Beach Jazz Festival. As a Bay Area…
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Neil Adler, harmonica and piano. Jeff Buenz, six-string bass. Akira Tana, drums. $20 cover; byob. students and musicians, $10. Also streamed live on Bird & Beckett’s facebook page and youtube channel for those who can’t make it into the shop for the show. Neil Adler has cooked up a collection of uplifting, rhythmic tunes he’s so excited by that this public unveiling can’t wait for their imminent release on cd and all those digital platforms. Wait! He got it done! CDs are here for sale! Be among the first! Jeff Buenz, Carlitos Medrano and Akira Tana, stellar musicians all, collaborated with Neil in the studio to bring the songs to life, and all three will be on hand with Neil to render it live for your ears. You can get a taste of the recordings sessions at this link. Wait! Seems Carlitos had a little mishap involving his bike and…
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Jim Witzel, guitar. Adam Shulman, organ. Jason Lewis, drums. $20 suggested donation, byob. $10 for students and musicians, kids free. “Jim Witzel has a warmth to his style and a precise technique that brings clarity to any melody before exploding with improvisation.” — LA Jazz Scene. This evening, Jim Witzel brings a trio to explore the tunes on his new album, “Breaking Through Gently.” Jim professes a fondness for the open sound and texture of the recordings released by the ECM label beginning in the early 1970s, and “Breaking Through Gently” represents a shift from the blues-based, hard bop feel of much of his earlier work. On the album, Jim is joined by his old friend, the Grammy winning pianist Phil Aaron, with whom he co-led the band Hyperion in Los Angeles a few decades ago, along with Bay Area colleagues Dan Feiszli on bass and Jason Lewis on drums.…
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Don’t just peer in from the sidewalk! Come into the comfort of Bird & Beckett and grab a seat to hear the jazz pouring forth from our little stage. If you haven’t had the pleasure in the past, you owe it to yourself tonight. From 6-8pm, guitarist Jim Witzel is joined by Adam Shulman on organ and Jason Lewis on drums for two sets to celebrate Jim’s new release “Breaking Through Gently.” Jim’s album represents a shift from the masterful blues-based, hard bop feel of much of his earlier work, and reflects his fondness for the open sound and texture of the recordings released by the ECM label beginning in the early 1970s. At 8:30, Neil Adler takes the stage with bassist Jeff Buenz, conguero Carlitos Medrano and drummer Akira Tana to render the tunes on his cd “Emi’s Song,” now on the verge of release. Jeff, Carlitos and Akira…
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Welcome home, Jayla! Welcome her home, people! With Emmanuel Michael on guitar and Michael Mitchell on guitar, it’ll be a fine night of jazz music! $20 cover, byob, reservations 415-586-3733.
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Vince Lateano brings decades of experience to bear, making the Bird & Beckett stage available to players sublime and aspirational. You should come! It’s nothin’ but fun. Sometimes excruciating, sometimes magical. And all the better for it!
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Jinx Jones, guitar. Kenan O’Brien, bass. Ken Owen, drums. $20 cover charge; byob. Reservations, call 415-586-3733. Jinx Jones is a virtuoso no matter the genre once he picks up his guitar. His jazz trio only grows more sublime with the passage of time, and this configuration is his sweet spot — Ken Owen on drums and Kenan O’Brien on bass bring jazz chops, long association and fresh acquaintance now well seasoned into a beautiful package. with a repertoire that mines the continuum from Kenny Burrell to Dick Dale. It’s all music, it’s all satisfying and it’s all jazz. Particularly so, with the musicianship and soul that Jinx brings to bear. Glen Park has played host to Jinx for years, and the benefits are vast. Join us for a sweet night of jazz.
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Friday, 10/25, 6-8pm: Tony Johnson’s 230 Jones Street Band… Friday, 10/25, 8:30-10pm: Brett Carson’s Substandard Quartet… Saturday, 10/26, 7:30-9:30pm: The Jinx Jones Jazz Trio… Sunday, 10/27, 5-7pm: Jam Session with the Vince Lateano Trio… Sunday, 10/27, 7:30-9:30pm: The Jayla Chee Trio. __________ Drummer Tony Johnson leads the 230 Jones Street, Local 6, Literary Jazz Band at the happy hour show from 6-8pm on Friday the 25th, with Charlie McCarthy, saxophone; Glen Deardorff, guitar; Sam Cady, piano; and Chuck Bennett, bass. Jazz veterans going strong. In this photo, Tony and Glen are shown in a 2010 incarnation of the band that Chuck Peterson (at left) founded in 2002. With them is the singer Dorothy Lefkovits. In 2024, the band plays on! Later Friday night, from 8:30-10pm, pianist and composer Brett Carson leads the Substandard Quartet, “a group that eschews the typical jazz standard in favor of the obscure and esoteric,” with…
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Lewis Jordan’s Music At Large plays Saturday night 10/19, 7:30-9:30pm. With this band, active in multiple configurations since 1976, Jordan “puts all his eggs in one basket,” incorporating music, theater, dance, poetry and visual art. Tonight, the focus is on the music. Lewis Jordan, saxophone and vocals; Sandi Poindexter, violin; Ollen Erich Hunt, bass; Jimmy Biala, drums. $20 cover/byob. _____________________ The Vince Lateano Trio continues their charming Third Sunday afternoons residency 10/20, 5pm. Always swinging and stress free. You’ll see. $20 helps us pay the musicians a guaranteed fair wage. BYOB. Plan now to come back the last Sunday of the month when Vince’s trio leads a jam session for up and coming local musicians.
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Raquel Berlind, vocals David Ferrazares, sax Kevin Gersevitz, piano Heshima Mark Williams, bass Alexey Berlind, drums $25 cover charge; byob. Reservations, call 415-586-3733 Raquel is a gem. So is her drummer husband Alexey. They’re about to become your new favorite people. Their three sidefolks are all B&B favorites, too. Raquel’s voice & songwriting chops are terrific, and she has performing credits as long as you arm. Check out this video on a recording session that Raquel and Alexey did in Manila with some wonderful jazz musicians resident there in the preparation of her brand new album, augmented, produced, mixed and mastered here at home. Buy a cd or a download at the show! Reward her artistry and make yourself happy!
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Downtown Danny Brown, saxophone Scott Foster, guitar Curtis Aikens, bass Brian Fishler, drums $20 cover charge; byob Reservations, call 415-586-3733 Scott’s third Fridays residency rolls on with this terrific quartet. Your donations help us pay a fair guaranteed wage. Being amongst people for music and small talk is the best inoculation against loneliness and viruses. Take a chance on camraderie and spend a happy hour or two here on a Friday evening. Browse the books! Should you need to stay home from time to time, a book from Bird & Beckett is a faithful companion, and buying same is a good way to help us meet the rent!
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You are invited to read a poem at Poets For Palestine, a poetry reading marathon that raises funds for the children of Palestine. October 14 (Indigenous Peoples Day) 12 noon to 8 pm at Bird & Beckett Books 653 Chenery St, San Francisco, CA 94131 * Pick one poem (3 minutes max) * Make an online donation (minimum $5) to MECA . * Send your name and best times to read to: [email protected] You’ll receive a confirmation email. * Attend the Marathon at Bird and Beckett Books. * If you are unable to attend, you may make a donation and send in a poem to [email protected] and we will read the poem for you at your requested time. Bird and Beckett will live stream the entire event: https://www.youtube.com/@birdbeckett1601/streams All donations directly benefit the Middle East Children’s Alliance (MECA). All the cash collected on that day will also go into the MECA fund. This…
Read MoreKim Shuck, former San Francisco Poet Laureate, hosts S.A. Griffin and Linda Ravenswood in her ongoing, twice monthly online poetry reading series. The first session of each month, on the 2nd Mondays, leads off with two featured readers and concludes with an open mic. The second session, on the 4th Mondays is all open mic. Karma bum, Vietnam era veteran of the USAF and left handed lefty from Los Angeles, S.A. Griffin is most recently the author of Pandemic Soul Music (Punk Hostage Press) which includes art by his late sister Robin Lynne Griffin, Suckers & Losers (River Dog) and Good Madness is Hard to Come By with Michael Lane Bruner (Rose of Sharon Press). Editor The Outlaw Bible of American Poetry (Basic Books, Firecracker Award) and along with Rich Ferguson, Alexis Rhone Fancher and Kim Shuck, S.A. is the co-editor of Beat Not Beat (Moon Tide Press). Queued up for publication, he is the co-editor of Sparring with Beatnik Ghosts with…
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Your donation to the Bird & Beckett Cultural Legacy Project helps us pay for a multitude of operating expenses necessary to present, promote and preserve local music, poetry, and more.
Help us keep the arts alive and thriving!
The Bird & Beckett Cultural Legacy Project was created in 2007 "to present, document and archive the creative work of significant living writers and musicians in the San Francisco Bay Area, for a neighborhood audience and future generations." We've been doing that very thing for more than a decade and a half, continuing the work we began when the store was established in 1999.
We continue to present a full slate of programming of live music and poetry readings, and produce a literary journal and poetry chapbooks, and we seek and welcome your continued financial support by way of donations through our fiscal sponsor, Jazz in the Neighborhood.
Click on "donate" in the navigation bar above. Better yet, send or drop off a check made out to our fiscal sponsor, Jazz in the Neighborhood, with BBCLP in the memo line. Our mailing address is:
Bird & Beckett Cultural Legacy Project
653 Chenery Street
San Francisco, CA 94131
Call us at (415) 586-3733 to find out how else you might lend your support.
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The Bird & Beckett Cultural Legacy Project
Our events are put on under the umbrella of the Bird & Beckett Cultural Legacy Project (the "BBCLP"). That's how we fund our ambitious schedule of 300 or so concerts and literary events every year.
The BBCLP is a [Read More ]
The Independent Musicians Alliance
Gigging musicians! You have nothing to lose but your lack of a collective voice to achieve fair wages for your work!
The IMA can be a conduit for you, if you join in to make it work.
https://www.independentmusiciansalliance.org/
Read more here - Andy Gilbert's Feb 25 article about the IMA from KQED's site
